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July 29 1924.

B. A. BRISTOW HYDRAULIC POWER DEVICE Filed Dec. 1. 1923 INVENTCJH Patented July 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES BRUCE A. BRISTOW, OF TOR-ONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

HYDRAULIC POWER DEVICE.

Application filed December 1, 1923. Serial No. 678,047.

To all whom it may concern:

\ Be it known that I, BRUCE A. BRIs'row, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, a subject of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Power Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to means for advantageously using water power where the head is low and the flow relatively large but which may be used with any available head and comprises in essence a crib or chamber having gate controlled openings in its bottom vertically movable in a stationary chamber communicating at its upper part with the water reservoir and having a gate controlled outlet at the lowest practical level. Means are provided whereby the outlet gate of the stationary chamber may be opened when the crib is in its uppermost position thus allowing the water in said chamber to escape and the crib to descend. Means are also provided for opening the gates in the bottom of the crib when it has reached its lowermost position so that, the outlet gate of the stationary chamber having been previously closed, the crib may be readily raised to its initial position.

Means are provided for equalizing the pressure above and below the bottom of the crib, when it is in its lowermost position, to facilitate the opening of the gates therein and means are also provided to convert the reciprocating rectilinear movement of the crib into rotary movement convenient for power transmission.

The invention is hereinafter more specifically described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the appa ratus;

Fig. 2 a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 a vertical section of the lower part of the apparatus with the crib in its lowermost position; and

Fig. 4 an enlarged cross section of the bottom of the crib.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

1 is a water reservoir, which may be either natural or artificial, and which is enclosed by the retaining walls 2. In one of these level in the reservoir at all times.

walls is formed an opening 3, which preferably should be of such depth that the reservoir may be drained so that water power is available as long as any water is contained in the reservoir. This opening communicates with the upper part of a stationary chamber 4, the lower part of which extends downward as far as the available fall perinits. This chamber, adjacent its lower end, is provided with the outlet 5 controlledby the gate 6, which is shown as vertically slidable in suitable guides. The bottom of the chamber is below the level of the under side of the outlet opening 5, thus forming a well whose function will hereinafter appear.

Vertically movable in this chamber is a hollow crib or chamber 7, which has an opening in its side adjacent the opening 3, of sutficient height to maintain communication with said opening whether the crib be in its uppermost or lowermost position. When the crib is in its uppermost position, the bottom will be at or below the lower edge of the opening 3, while in its lowermost position its bottom will lie within the well at the bottom of the stationary chamber l.

The walls of the crib are of such a height that they will be above the maximum water In the bottom of the crib are formed one or more openings controlled by hinged gates 8 operated as hereinbefore described.

The crib is suitably guided within the stationary chamber, as, for instance, by the anti-friction rollers 9 on the crib running on the guides 10 on the stationary chamber. The escape of water from the reservoir round the sides of the crib is prevented by suitable packing strips 11 on the crib working in grooves 12 in the end walls of the stationary chamber.

Power is derived on the down stroke from the vertical movements of the crib, which movements are determined by the opening and closing of the gates 6 and 8. Assuming the crib to be in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 1, the outlet gate 6 is opened. The water in the stationary chamber below the crib is thus allowed to escape, whereupon the weight of water in the crib causes the latter to descend. As soon as the water in the lower part of the stationary chamber has escaped, the gate 6 is closed while the crib continues to descend, any air in the chamber of the crib and the chamber.

then free to rise, as the water above it read.-

ily passes through the bottom into the sta tionary chamber as fast as the crib rises.

The crib may be of wood, or may be otherwise made sufficiently buoyant to float upwardly and its upward movement is preferably assisted by a counterbalancing weight. This is preferably arranged in connection with them cans for converting the rectilinear movement of the crib into a rotary move-.

ment. For this purpose I provide a shaft 13,. which is suitably journalled and will usually be of sufficient length to serve several power units, as in order to secure a continuous output of power, I prefer to employ two or more units such as described side by side. This shaft carries a drum 1 1 on which is wound the cable connected by suitable bridles 16 to the crib. This drum has a pawl and ratchet connection 17 with the shaft. The end of the cable 15 has the counterbalancing weight 18 secured thereto. It follows therefore that as the crib rises either by flotation or by the operation of the weight 18 or by both combined, that the drum revolves freely on the shaft, while when the crib descends, the pawl and ratchet engage and the shaft is rotated. This shaft may be used to operate electric generators. for generation and transmission of electrical energy. H To synchronize the operation of the gates 8 any suitable mechanism may be employed. I show for this purpose a pairof crank, disks 19 journalled at the bottom of the crib- A connecting rod 20 is journalled on wrist pins on these crank disks and this in turn has pivotal connections with the hinged gates 8. By imparting a partial movement ofrotation to the disks 19,. the gates may be closed or opened. v I prefer, however, that the gatesshould be so constructed as to be liglrteii than water-in which case the main function the constructions just described isto synchronize the movements'of the gates 8.

It. is preferred, however, to employ in connection with one or more of the. disks 19 a helical spring 21 connected to the disk and its axle which tends to hold the gates upright, when open, but which is powerless to open them when they are closed and the water pressure is on them.

The gates are preferably closed by contact of one or more of the gates with a stationary stop at the top of the stationary chamber.

To operate the gate 6 I provide an electric motor which is geared to a drunr 25 on which is wound a cable 26, the other end of which is connected with the gate. The weight of the gate will usually be sufficient to ensure its closing by gravity. The cable 26 is kept taut and the gate to which it is connected partly counterbalanced respectively by the weight 28 connected with its free end. The control of the motor for opening and closing the gate 6 may be effected manually, though it will be preferable to provide automatic means therefor. For this purpose I provide the circuit 22 of the motor 24.- with two switches 29 and 30. The first switch is closed by the projection 31 on the crib as the latter reaches a point very slightly below its impel-most position and the motor thus started. The other is opened by a projection 32 on the gate when the latter has been suiiiciently opened and the motor is thus stopped to permit the gate to close- The movement of the gate 6 in opening and closing not being very rapid, the water in the lower part of the chamber 4 has ample time to escape. r

While I do not desire to restrict myself I deem it important that the range of vertical movement of the crib be less than the available fall. For instance I consider that a range ofmovement of about five feet is best no matter what the available head may be.

What I claim is r 1. A hydraulic power device comprising a reservoir; a stationary chamber having the upper part of one side open to thereservoir and extending downwardly to provide a suitable fall; a crib vertically movable in said chamber and having an opening in one side adapted to maintain communication with the opening in. the side of the stationary chamber as the crib rises and falls a. gate controlled outlet adjacentthefbottorn of the chamber; and a gate controlled out let in the bottom of the crib.

2. A hydraulic power device comprising a reservoir; a stationary ch amber havingthe upper part of one side open. to the reservoir and extending downwardly to provide a suitable fall; a crib vertically movable in, said chamber and havingan opening in one side adapted to maintain communication with the opening in the side of, thestationary chamber as the crib rises and falls; agate controlled outlet above the/bottom. of the chamber, the bottom ofthe chamber thus forming a well which the bottom of the crib may enter to displace water therein; and a gate controlled outlet in the bottom of the crib.

3. A hydraulic power device comprising a reservoir; a stationary chamber having the upper part of one side open to the reservoir outlets in the bottom of the crib; and operat 10 and extending downwardly to provide a ing means connected with said gates wheresuitable fall; a crib vertically movable in bythey may be simultaneously closed.

said chamber and having an opening in one Signed at Toronto, Canada, this fifth day side adapted to maintain communication of November 1923.

with the opening in. the side of the station- BRUCE A. BRISTOW.

a-i'y chamber as the crib rises and falls; a gate controlled outlet adjacent the bottom of the chamber; a plurality of gate controlled Witnesses:

EVA M. Bms'row, HANNAH TILBURY. 

